In an essay published in the Sunday New York Daily News, two former health commissioners stated that “poverty is bad for health” and called for action to address New York’s child poverty problem. [Read the full essay.]
The authors, Dr. Dave Chokshi and Dr. Mary Bassett, are among our state’s top public health experts: Dr. Chokshi is a professor at the City College of New York and a primary care physician at Bellevue Hospital. He previously served as the health commissioner of New York City. Dr. Bassett is a professor and director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University. She previously served as the health commissioner of both New York State and New York City.
In their essay, Dr. Chokshi and Dr. Bassett are clear about the risks of child poverty: “Children experiencing poverty are at higher risk of illness, hunger, homelessness, and violence. The brunt of these effects falls on families of color, who are more likely to have low income, less wealth, and live in neighborhoods with fewer resources.
Children don’t choose these conditions; they reflect generations of disinvestment and discrimination. No child should have to shoulder these burdens.”
They also call on Governor Hochul and state leaders to commit to bold investments in addressing New York’s child poverty rates, citing solutions implemented in other states, like robust child tax credits and guaranteed income programs.
As former health commissioners, Drs. Chokshi and Bassett know that investments that reduce – and eliminate – child poverty are worth it. “Just as in medicine, when it comes to investing in child poverty reduction, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
“A New York free of child poverty would mean more families are able to provide the things every parent wants for their children: nourishing meals, safe and stable housing, consistent health care, and opportunities to play sports and participate in the arts.
“We could break cycles of generational hardship, creating pathways to lasting success and stability. If we eliminated child poverty, New York’s children would be healthier, safer, and more likely to thrive as they enter adulthood.”
We encourage you to read the full essay and to share it widely. New York can end child poverty – we know it, health experts know it, and our state leaders know it. This must be the year that we act boldly and with intention to enact the policies that get it done.
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